Display or advertising clock.



Witmcbow W. SWANK.

DISPLAY 0R ADVERTISING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE II. 1914.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- jag, 5'

W. SWANK. DISPLAY 0R ADVERTISING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. m4.

1,1 60,46 1. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

less operator and the clock shown in Fig. 1

WILLIAM SWANK, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DISPLAY 0R ADVERTISING CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application filed June 11, 1914. Serial No. 844,492.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. WILLIAM SWANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display or Advertising Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to time indicating devices which are particularly adapted to be used for display or advertising purposes, and to this end the invention contemplates means whereby the correct instant of the noon hour is indicated on the dial of a dis play clock and further indicated by the automatic drop of a plurality of different colored balls, each of which drop at a predetermined specified time.

The primary object of this device is to provide a time indicating instrument which is controlled through the operation of a second instrument; the said second instrument being timed with the time beats sent out through space by the wireless operator positioned at a central time announcing station.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for accurately timing the combined mechanism with the time beats, as projected through space by the station operator, such that the correct'instant or point of time is thus indicated on the face of the dial of the display clock.

With these and many other objects in view, which will become'more. readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, illustrated and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in carrying out the above objects are quite susceptible to a. wide range of structural modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a thoroughly practical and preferred embodi ment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is'a face elevation of the main time indicating clock, showing the necessary operating mechanism associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a face elevation of the seconds beat clock, which functions between the time impulses projected through space by the wiremain time indicating of the drawings. vFig.

. tible, making the 3 is an edge view of the mechanism shown in Fig- 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the time balls which drop by gravity, when its support is removed through the action of a magnet which controls the sa. e. Fig. 5 is a view showing the mechanism used to withdraw the time ball supports shown in Fig. i. Fig 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

imilar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out this invention I provide a clock. designated by the numeral 10, having the usual main spring 11 and seconds pendulum 12, which operates an escapement 13, such as to permit a pin 14, positioned in the circular frame 15, to pass the escapement positioned upon a post about which it rotates through the action of a suitable train of gears, as shown in the edge view of Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Positioned upon the pin 16, such as to rotate concentric with the frame 15, there is provided a seconds hand or indicator 17. The indicator 17 is further provided with a small spring controlled bell crank 18, the point 19 of which engages a seconds post 20 with each seconds swing of the pendulum.

y virtue of the spring 21, the seconds beat of the pendulum, which operates in unison with the seconds indicator, is quite perceptiming of the instrument with the beats from the wireless station a comparatively easy task. The seconds posts 20, of which there are in number, are positioned in a. frame 22 of the clock 10 and are each provided with a low tension current conducting wire 23 which enters a cable 24: having 60 wires, each insulated from the other.

Positioned upon the frame of the clock 10 and insulated therefrom, is a current carrying brush 25 which serves, together with the associated conducting wire 26, the switch 27, and the battery 28, to conduct electrical currents to the post 16, from which the same are conducted through the seconds hand indicator 17 thence through the point 18 to the seconds post 20 from whence they flow through the cable 24, to the opposite side of the battery 28, after passing through the display device through the return wire designated by the numeral 61. r

In connection with the manually operated switch 27, it will be observed that the same is normally in inoperative position, thus the operation of the master clock in' no way ef fects the display clock until the switch is closed as shown in the dra n ings. That is to say, the display clock 30 is not intended to operate continuously with the master clock, but only comes into action when the operator or attendant manually throws the switch 27 into its closed position, a few minutes before the approach of the noon hour. The attendant or operator of the display clock is signaled from a main or central time sending station about five minutes before the approach of the noon hour to watch his apparatus and synchronize the pendulum of the master clock with the pulsations sent out from the radio-station. After the master clock is properly timed with the time piece at the wireless station, the operator of the display clock throws the switch 27 into closed position. This preferably takes place a few-seconds after the third minute before the noon hour, or in other words, after the master clock has been properly tuned with the sending station, and theseconds hand indicator 17 has passed the third minute before the hour, the switch 27 is closed and the display clock set in operation. To state this another way, one second after 11:57, the switch 27 is closed so that the three balls of the time ball device will respectively fall at 11 :58; 11 :59; and 12 m. As soon as the clock mechanism passes the point of 12 m., the switch is opened and the display device is ready to be reset by hand.

The cable 24 has one wire for each seconds post, or 60 wires for the one flowing current. Beyond the battery 28, at a position 29, the cable contains one additional wire which is used for the return flow of electric current. For the sake of clearness a diagram is used in the drawings. The cable 24, which contains 60 wires for the outfiowing current and one wire for the return flow of current, extends from the clock 10 to a suitable seconds indicating clock30, preferably placed in a conspicuous place such as to attract attention when the same is used for display or advertising purposes. Preferably the cable 2a upon entering the back of the main indicating clock 30 subdivides into its separate 60 wires, each wire connecting with its corresponding seconds post 81 on the clock 30. as for instance the wire connecting the 59th post of the main seconds clock 10 to the battery 28, will also ornnect with the 59th post of the display clock 30. Preferably the dis lay clock 30 is provided with a plurality of incandescent globes 32, which may be of different colors,

the globes being positioned on the seconds post as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and arranged to light successively around the dial. Since provision is thus made for conducting the electrical currents to the seconds lamp post, and through the lamps, there must also be provided a means for the return circuit from the lamp to the battery 28. This is accomplished through the common return circuit wire, designated by the numeral 61, wnich unites all the negative poles of the lamps with the corresponding pole of the battery.

Since we have traced the. wire from the time clock to the indicating clock, it now remains to explain the operation of the mechanism employed to drop the balls which are positioned above the clock 80, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The mechanism which releases the ball 38 at the pre-deter- 1 mined instant primarily consists of a battery 34, positive and negative wires and 38, which, together with a magnet 37 complete an electric circuit that is controlled by an electric switch 38 and further consists of a plurality of coils 39, each having magnetic cores or pole pieces 40, and a metallic bar ll, positioned. across the poles and fulcrumed at 42, such as to move the point 42 thus closing the circuit from the battery 3d. The coils 39 are each energized through the amp 60 on the display clock, and the mechanism used to drop the balls is preferably arranged to drop the first ball at two minutes before the hour, the second ball at one minute before the hour, and the last ball at the stroke of the hour. It will be here noticed that this arrangement provides for an indication of the approaching hour which greatly facilitates the correct setting of time pieces by persons who are attracted by the performance of the device,

The selective mechanism, which is designed to drop the balls 33, a3 and 1%, all of which are positioned upon a rod 4&5, is designated in its entirety by the numeral 46. and consists primarily of the magnet 37 and the means for energizing the same, which has already been described above. Let us assume that the balls 33, 4:3 and 4A are all in position to drop at the instant that the ball support 47 is removed. The ball support 47 consists of a bell crank fulcrumed at 48, and having attached to the short arm 19 an operating wire 50, which is extended downward and attached to a horizontal arm 51, of a bell crank 52, positioned in a frame 58 andfulcrumed at 5%, as shown in Fig. 50f the drawings. In connection with each of the bell cranks 52, it will be noted that the arm 52 thereof is of forked formation at its lower end. That is to say. the lower end of this arm has an intermediate curved tongue or hook 6i struck out therefrom for engagement with the peri 'ihe'ry'of the cam disks. while the opposite side tongue portions 52 engage lc 'osel'y with-the sides of the disks to hold manner, the disk 56? carries a the point 64 in proper position. In other words, the opposite tongue portions 52 straddle the disk while the intermediate engages the notched periphery thereof. Positioned in the frame 53 and adapted to rotate therein about the center 55, are cams 56 56? and 56 each provided with an electrically controlled clutch 57, 58 and 59.

For the purpose of selecting the ball to be dropped at the specified minute before the hour, and on the hour, the cams 56 and 56 are provided with guards and 61 respectively, which serve to hold the clutch fingers 62 of the clutches 58 and 59 out of engagement with the cams 56 and 56 until the proper time-that is, so that the cam 56 moves first, and '56 and 56 follow in order. As will be observed from Figs. 5 and 6, the means for successively and automatically releasing the different colored balls so that they slide down the standard 45, at the proper time, essentially comprises a selective device including a pivoted arm member 63 which is adapted to be actuated by the electro1nagnet 37. As the pivoted arm 63 pivotally carries at its upper end the clutches 57, 58, and 59, it is obvious that when the arm 63 is drawn forward by the energizing of the magnet 37, all of the clutches 57, 58, and 59 will be pulled forward, but all the cams will not move at once, because of the guard 60 and 61: Since each of the cam disks 56, 56 and 56 are mounted on a common axis 55, and are each provided with the duplicate notched peripheries for operating the bell cranks 52 which control the several ball supports i7, it is obvious that upon the forward movement of the pivoted arm 63 when the magnet 37 is energized, all of the disks would be pulled forward through the medium of the clutch fingers 62 if it were not for the guards 60 and 61 sired to have these balls drop at one minute intervals, it is necessary that the cam disks 56 and 56 be respectively actuated one and two minutes later than the cam disk 56. Accordingly, as will be apparent from Fig. 5, in order t actuate the disks separately at spaced intervals, the clutch finger 62 of the clutch 57 is normally in engagement with the first disk 56 which actuates the lowermost ball on the standard. Then, as the arm 63 is moved forward, it will be clear that the disk is actuated. However, to prevent the actuation of the adjoining disk 56 when the disk 56 is moved, the latter carries on the side thereof a guard finger 60 which is of sufficient length as shown in Fig. 5 to maintain and hold the clutch finger 62 of the clutch 58 out of engagement with the notch in the disk 56. In the same guard finger sothat its 61 for holding .the clutch159.

However, as it is del clutch finger 62 is out of engagement with the notch in the disk 56?, until after the disk 56 has been actuated.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that with the provision of the guard fingers 6O" and 61 carried by the disks 56 and 56"-, the disk 56 will be first actuated upon the movement of the pivoted arm 63, and at the end of the movement of the disk 56, the guard finger 60 carried thereby will permit the clutch finger 62 of the clutch 58 to drop into engagement with the notch on the disk 56". If the arm 63 is now actuated with this position of the parts, the clutch 57 will have an idle movement, while the clutch 58 moves the disk forward to release the second ball.

After the disks 56 and 56 have been moved, the clutches 57 and 58 will have an idle movement upon the next swing of the arm 63, and the clutch 59 will engage with the disk 56 by its clutch finger 62, since the guard 61 carried by the disk 56 has been moved to permit the clutch finger to drop into engagement with the notch in the disk. Therefore, it will be clear that the third energization of the magnet 37, and the third forward movement of the swinging arm 63 rotates the cam disk 56 to drop the third and last ball to indicate the noon hour. After the apparatus has performed this service, the switch 27 is thrown out, and the display clock entirely disconnected with the master clock. The selective mechanism generally designated as as is then reset by hand, the cam disks 56, 56 and 56 respectively being turned to their normal positions, and reset by means of the keys [0 carried by each disk, and preferably colored to correspond to the color of the ball which the disk controls.

Following out the operation of dropping the balls, let us assume that the magnet 37 is now energized and the pivoted arm 63 of the frame 46 is drawn toward the magnet. This action has the effect of rotating the cam 56 and since the point 6-l of the bell c'ank 52 presses against the cam face 65, with a pressure equal to the tension in the spring 66, it will be obvious that any tendency to rotate the cam will cause the point 6% to move out on the face of the cam while the outer end of arm 51 will be drawn down, thus pulling the pin 47 into a position such that the ball 33 will drop by gravity. Since all the clutches are carried by one frame and ave a common fulcrum 67, it is obvi ous that some means be provided that make this selective mechanism positive and to this end there is provided a clutch lift designated by the numeral 68, fulcrumed at 69, and

provided with a clutch engaging bar 70. The use and operation of this bar 70 may be described as follows: Theballs 33, 43 and 44 having been placed in position and held,

.clutches 57, 5S and 59.

there by their respective bell cranks l7, as shown in Fig. a of the drawings, the end 71 is pressed downward, raising the bar 70, which engages the underside 72 of the By virtue of the tension in the spring 66 the point 64 will slide into engagement with the cam 56 at the point 65. This action has a slight tendency to rotate the cam 56 such that finger guards 6O and 61 pass under the fingers 62 of the clutches 58 and 59 leaving the tinger 62'of the clutch 57 down for engagement at 7 3; the said clutch 57 being the first to engage and rotate the cam'56. It will be understood that each clutch has it own corresponding operating cam and levers for dropping the balls. lhe magnet 37 having been energized and the cam 56 rotated and the first bail dropped, the electric current is broken through the operation of the main seconds beat hand of the control clock, the circuit having been broken, a spring 7% draws'the clutches back into active engagement. A. stop is positioned on the frame 53 for the purpose of insuring the proper functioning of the cams 56, 56 and 56". That is to say, the stop 75 prevents the disks from completely rotating upon their axis 55. As wil he clear from Fig. 5, each disk is provided with a peripheral notch a, and the end walls of the notch engage with the stop 7 5. If it were not for the stop 75 engaging with the disk, the hook 6% would have a tendency to rotate the disk backward, since the hook 6t of the bell crank 52 is under tension of the spring 66 which exerts an upward pull on the arm 50 of the bell crank. It is essential that no backward movement of the disks be possible, especially in the cases of the disks 56 and 56 in order to insure ie clutch fingers 62 positively coming into engagement with the notch portions 73 when the clutches 58 and 59 arelowered. 111 other words, it is essential to keep the notched portions or points 73 in alinement, and if it were not for the stop 7 5, the tension of the-spring 66 might rotate the disk so that they would be inoperative. Cbviously, the notch in which the stop 75 plays is suflicient to allow the disks to rotate the necessary distance to make the tongue 6% ride-from the cam depression in the periphery in each disk onto the raised or rounded periphery, to rock the bell crank 52. As as the forward movement of the disks is concerned, they are of course limited by the opposite end wall of the notch, since it is not necessary that the disks turn further than to accomplish the ejection of the tongues or hooks 6% from the cam notches 65. g

Having thus described my invention, the

operation may be summed up as follows:

lhe correct time is taken by causing the seconds hand of the master clock 10 to sy'nchro nize with the seconds impulses set central time announcing station. As will be observed, the master clock 10 is provided withsixty seconds posts, each one of which is connected with a corresponding lamp terminal in the dial 30 of the display clock, so that when the circuit is closed by the moving seconds element 17, an electric current is permitted to flow from the battery 28 through the seconds post of the clock 10 and the seconds indicating lamps o the display clock. As the seconds contact element- 17 of the master clock rotates or revolves in a complete circle, and swee as over the circular series of seconds contact posts, the various seconds indicating lamps in the display clock will be lighted in succession. in connection with these lamps, it will be noted that the sixtieth one is electrically connected with the switch closing magnets 39 of the electromagnetic means for controlling the energization of the magnet 37 which operates the selective mechanism for dropping the balls. it will be further noticed, in this connection, that the magnet 37 is energized as long'as the indicator 17 is upon the sixtieth post of the main clock 10, for the reason that the sixtieth wire is the only one in the series that is connected to the magnet The drop of the ball i3 is accomplished in the following manner: The instant the magnet 37 is deenergized the spring 7 asserts itself anddraws the pivoted arm'63 away from the pole of the magnet 37, and since the clutch fingers 58 and 59 are fulcrumed at a common center 67, they both thus assume the initial position with reference to the cam 56 which cam alone is used to operate the finger 58. The specific operation which drops the ball 4 3 consists of positioning the indicator 17 upon the sixtieth seconds post of the clock 10, thus energizing the coils 39, closing the current as above described, allowing the tery 3% to energize the magnet 37 drawing the pivoted arm 63 toward the pole of the magnet, which action rotates the cam 56- upon the periphery of which the point 6d of one of the bell cranks 52 impinges in a manner similar to the one above described. The drop of the ball, designated at ie. is accomplished in like manner.

Having thus described my invention, what out by the I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is 3.. In a device of the class play clock having a plui dicators, time hall device including rality of time balls, electrically operated ns for dropping at A 'edetern ined intervals, and a master clock having means for closing an electric circuit to said electrically operated means for dropping said balls.

2. In device of the class described, a dis said balls successivelyplay clock including a series of seconds indicating lamps, a time ball device comprising a plurality of balls arranged and positioned above the series of indicating lamps, means for supporting said balls, andelectrically operated means for successively removing the support from each ball allowing the same to drop, and a master clock having means for closing an electric circuit to said lamps and electrically operated means.

3. In a device of the character described, a display clock including a plurality of seconds indicating lamps and a time ball device, electrically operated means for controlling said time balls, electric connections between one of said lamps and said electrically operated means, a master clock, electrical connections between the seconds indicating lamps of the display clock and the master clock, and means associated with the master clock for successively closing an electric circuit to the lamps of the display clock.

4. In a device of the class described, a display clock having a plurality of electric indicating elements and an electrically oper ated time ball device, and a master clock having means for successively closing an electric circuit to each of said elements and to said time ball device at spaced intervals.

In a device of the character described, a display clock having a circular series of seconds indicating lamps, and an electrically operated time ball device including separately releasable balls, and a master clock having revolving means for closing an electric circuit to said lamps in successive order, and to said time ball device once at each complete revolution.

6. A device of the class described including a display clock having a plurality of seconds indicating lamps and a time ball device, said device comprising a plurality of separately releasable balls, electrically operated means for successively releasing said balls, electric connections between one of said lamps and said electrically operated means, and a master clock having means for closing an electric circuit to all of said seconds indicating lamps.

7. A device of the class described including a display clock having a circular series of seconds indicating lamps and a time ball device, said device comprising a plurality of separately releasable balls, electrically operated means for successively releasing said balls, electric connections between one of said lamps and said electrically operated means, and a master clock having revolving means for closing an electric circuit to each of said circular series of lamps on the display clock, thereby closing a circuit to the ball dropping means once at each revolution through said electrical connections.

8. A device of the class described including a display clock having a circular series tween one of said of indicating lamps and a time ball device, said device comprising a standard, a plurality of balls slidable thereon, means for separately supporting and releasing each ball, and an electrically operated selective device for successively actuating said means, electro-magnetic means for operatmg said selective device for successively re leasing said balls, electrical connections belamps and said electromagnetic means, and a master clock having means for closing an electric circuit to all of said seconds indicating lamps in succession.

9. A device of the class described including a display clock having a circular series of indicating lamps and a time ball device, said device comprising a hollow standard, a plurality of ballsslidable thereon, bell crank levers pivoted in said hollow standard and having one end in supporting engagement with each of said balls, an electrically operatedselective d vice, connections between said levers and said selective device for separately releasing said balls at spaced intervals, electro-magnetic means for operating said selective device, electrical connections between one of said lamps and said electro-magnetic means, and a master clock having means for closing said electric circuit through all of said seconds indicating lamps in succession.

10. A device of the class described including a display clock having a circular series of indicating lamps and a time ball device, said device comprising a standard, a plurality of balls slidable on said standard, means for separately supporting and releasing eacn ball, and an electrically operated selective device for successively actuating said means and comprising a plurality of notched disks, pivoted means for moving each of said disks separately, means actuated by said disks for operating said means for separately releasing each hall, electro magnetic means for operating said pivoted means, electrical connections between one of said lamps and said electromagnetic means, and a master clock having means for closing an electric circuit to all of said seconds indicating lamps in succession.

11. A device of the class described includ ing a display clock having a circular series of indicating lamps and a time ball device, said device comprising a plurality of separately releasable balls, a clutch device for separately and successively releasing said balls, electro-magnetic means for o erating said clutch device, electrical connections between one of said lamps and said electromagnetic eans, said electro-magnetic means comprising an electro-magnet included in a battery circuit for operating said clutch device, and a magnetically operated switch for closing the battery circuit to said electro-magnet, and a master clock having circuit to said having means means for successively closing an electric lamps and electro-magnetic means. Q

12. {In a device of the character described, a .displav clock having a nluralitv of "electric indicating elements, and an electrically operated time ball device, a master clock for successively closing an electric circuit to each of said elements, and

1 to said time bal1 device at spaced intervals,

'Copies of this patent may be obtained for jfiv'e cents each, by addressing the the display clock and master clock,

between for ren.

dering'i the former o erative and lnoperative when desired.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in nresence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SWANK.

and. a manuallv operated switch lVitnesses: v

N. E. GEE, B. C. MoCoRwIcK.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, DIG 

